NEWS

The report published by PLC Research says that Georgia increased total beverage exports at a CAGR of 10% from 2017 to 2023, and it reached USD 463 million in 2023. However, the increase of SME exports had a lower CAGR of 6%, while the growth of the value added in the sector had a CAGR of 11% and reached GEL 739 million in 2023 (1.9% of total value-added).
Nevertheless, there is a significant decline of the EU’s share in total beverage exports from 2017 to 2023 due to limited access to quality raw materials, outdated machinery, a shortage of skilled labor (particularly outside Tbilisi), and logistical constraints.
Another challenge is compliance with EU standards and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) regulations due to the high cost of obtaining certification and a lack of specialized expertise among SMEs.
Also, high interest rates, limited trade finance options, and cash flow challenges when exporting directly to supermarkets constrain access to financing for export operations.
The document reports that significantly higher shares of total exports and exports to the EU compared to other beverage types were accounted for “ethyl alcohol, spirits, liqueurs, and other spirituous beverages” and “natural/artificial mineral and aerated waters” from 2017 to 2023.
Nevertheless, different composition of other most exported beverage types in the two cases demonstrated different consumer preferences and market conditions in the EU. For example, 15% of total beverage exports belonged to “Flavored mineral aerated waters, containing added sugar or sweetening matter”, but only 2% of exports to the EU. In the same way, the share of “beer” exports was relatively small in exports to the EU compared to total exports. Opposingly, “fruit and vegetable juices” were more successful in exports to the EU.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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The exports of Georgia (excluding non-declared exports) reached USD 1 401.2 million in January-March 2025 (5.7 percent higher year-on-year). The domestic exports had the share of 45.8 percent in total exports constituted (USD 641.8 million, 0.1 percent lower to the same period of 2024).

As for the total domestic exports of Georgia in January-March 2025, the share of the top ten trading partners amounted to 67.4 percent. Russia (USD 122.0 million), Türkiye (USD 66.9 million) and China (USD 47.5 million) were the top partners.

In the reporting period, the first place in the list of top domestic export item belonged to precious metal ores and concentrates (USD 53.0 million, or 8.3 percent of total domestic exports). Particularly, exports of wine of fresh grapes amounted to USD 49.6 million and had the share of 7.7 percent in the total domestic exports. The third place in the domestic exports was occupied by Spirituous beverages (USD 45.4 million, 7.1 percent of the total domestic exports).

NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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According to the data that the statistics office reported on Wednesday, Serbia’s trade demonstrated an annual increase by 52.8% to 2.895 billion euro ($3.290 billion) in the first three months of 2025.

Consequently, more details appeared in a press release, reporting that the annual rise of exports equaled to 1.8% and reached 7.346 billion euro in the January-March period, while the increase of imports attained 12.4% (10.241 billion euro).

Meanwhile, the downfall of the export-import ratio was 7.5 % (from 79.2% to 71.7%) in the same period last year.

As for Serbia’s trade deficit, it widened from 698 million euro, creating a trade gap of 1.186 billion euro. Particularly, the increase of exports equaled to 4% on the year to 2.615 billion euro in March, while the growth of imports attained 18.3% (totally 3.801 billion euro).

Comparatively, Serbia’s trade gap growth was 19.9% (totally 9.865 billion euro).

NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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A total trade exchange of €9.41 billion made Germany Serbia’s most important trading partner last year. Serbia imported goods worth €5.14 billion from Germany, while exports to Germany achieved €4.27 billion in 2024.
Simultaneously, total trade with Italy, for example, attained €4.49 billion, while Serbia imported from China goods worth €5.11 billion.
Alexander Markus, Executive Board Member of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said that Serbia and Germany have doubled trade between each other from 2018 to 2024 (from €4.67 billion to €9.411 billion).
Finished or semi-finished components for further processing in the mobility sector (25%), machines and equipment, mechanical tools, electronic devices (25%), and chemical products (11%) are Serbia’s main imported products from Germany.
Goods from the mobility sector (51%), followed by iron ore and wood products, as well as food (each 11%) and chemical products (7%) primarily make up exports from Serbia to Germany. German investors make more than €2 billion of these exports, including wire harnesses, electronics, cars, and trams.
Stada-Hemofarm (€900 million), ZF Serbia (€580 million), Lidl (€460 million), Continental (€183 million), Brose (€180 million), Metro Cash & Carry (€142 million), and Messer Tehnogas AD (€119 million) are the largest German investors in Serbia. Alexander Markus said that total foreign direct investments from Germany in Serbia have reached around €6 billion since the year 2000. 900 companies create 80,000 jobs and pay 31% higher wages than the overall business sector average. They also generate 16% of Serbian exports and have 7% higher gross added value than the national average.
In spite of an improvement of the business climate in Germany at the end of January, expectations then declined again, and companies remain pessimistic.
Migration also has a significant impact on the German labour market (about 27% of the workforce in Germany are immigrants).
Workers from the six countries of Southeastern Europe have a simplified access to the German labour market due to a prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Totally, a fixed quota of up to 50,000 residence permits annually (for all six countries) was set before negotiations on the new coalition government. On the one hand, it contributes to the “brain drain” from Serbia. On the other hand, Serbian skilled and reliable workforce attracts German investments.
There are plans to further reduce the number of workers coming to Germany to 25,000 per year.
A signed employment contract is necessary for anyone coming from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia who wishes to move to Germany under the Western Balkans rule.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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